Wednesday, July 21, 2010

"In May, at the ribbon-cutting for the new American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first lady crystallized the value of the arts by describing their impact in dollars and cents. She spoke of the nearly $160 billion that art and cultural activities contribute to the economy and announced the $50 million in stimulus funds earmarked for the NEA to preserve and create regional jobs in the creative industry. Her remarks, which positioned the arts as an engine of economic development, received a modest nod in the mainstream. But they sparked hoots of happiness in the creative community. "